Video: Hynes, Linton Talk Video Surveillance, SOLS At School Board Debate

Just days before residents cast their votes in the Nov. 8 elections, Hunter Mill School Board candidates and faced off Thursday in a debate at Vienna's American Legion, sounding off on topics from video surveillance in high schools to Standards Of Learning (SOL) exams.

The candidates, who are vying for the seat Stu Gibson has occupied for 16 years, agreed on several of those issues, video surveillance among them. Neither candidate was ready to throw weight behind the plan -- at least not without further research, they said.

"I understand the concern of the principals, they have a tough job to do. They have to maintain a safe sober environment where people can focus on learning where you've got literally thousands of people in a building and they need the tools to do that," Hynes said."My personal sense is that our students here in Fairfax County have not really earned that kind of surveillance ... I just don't think we have that level of criminal behavior in our schools that warrants that persistent invasion of privacy."

Linton said Hynes' statement reflected the kind of feedback she'd also received from community members, but there were also more questions that needed answers.

"We do need to empower principals to keep the school safe, but there's so many issues connected with it, the expense of it ... who would monitor it, how long you would keep the tapes ... there's so many issues to look at in this and I think we need to look at this very thoroughly."

Patch is running all of the candidates' responses in a series of video segments. Watch answers to

The candidates answer the following questions in the videos above.

Question 5: How do you feel about the use of video surveillance cameras inside the high schools during the school day as a general security measure?

Question 6: It seems every few years more required classes are taking time away from high school student's electives. Any chance the required classes could be scaled back?

Question 7: SOL's force teachers to teach for the test and make it hard for them to teach how they want. In our area, they are not taken seriously by students because they are easy to us and almost everybody passes on their first try. I believe they are a waste of money and time, what is your stance on these tests?

Question 8: What is your view on the discipline policy in Fairfax County Public Schools? Should the same policy on suspensions be applied to elementary school students as it is applied to senior high school students? Should students be asked to incriminate oneself without another adult or parent present?